Board continues Stonegate Subdivision street-acceptance and bond-release request after Department of Public Services memo

PBD Living LLCs request to release remaining bond funds and for street acceptance at the Stonegate Subdivision was continued by the Providence Planning Board on Aug. 21 after city staff advised holding action.

City staff told the board that the Department of Public Services (DPS) provided a memo asking the city not to take action on the request and to withhold the remaining funds. The planner said DPSs memo was shared with both the planning office and PBD Living LLC.

Why it matters: developers often post performance bonds to guarantee public improvements such as streets and drainage. A planning-board recommendation and city acceptance are typical steps before a bond release and formal street acceptance.

At the meeting planner staff said the city had previously released nearly $200,000 of the Stonegate bond in May and a separate $50,000 street bond; DPS currently holds about $88,000 related to the project, and those remaining amounts are described in the correspondence from PBD Living LLC. The developers representative asked that the item be continued to the next planning-board meeting; the board voted to place the item on the next agenda and to include DPSs memo and photos in the meeting packet so members can review them in advance.

Board members who visited the site said they observed vegetation growth and no visible erosion; one member described a detention pond on the property and said the pond looked larger than required. The transcript records differing views about whether on-site conditions merited withholding funds; city staff recommended no action until DPSs concerns are resolved.

Next steps: The matter is continued to the boards next meeting for discussion with the applicant and review of DPSs memo and photos. The board requested that any documents be included in the official meeting packet in advance so members have time to review before discussion.